The Palace Museum in Beijing signed an agreement with a charity fund run by German automobile manufacturer Mercedes-Benz on Monday to promote cultural heritage conservation, scientific research and education.

The Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, was China's imperial palace from 1420 to 1911. It is also the world's largest remaining imperial architecture complex.

According to the agreement between the museum and Mercedes-Benz Star Fund, the German side will sponsor the research and renovation of Jingfu Gong, a palace in the eastern part of the Forbidden City.

The agreement will also include projects on the protection of bricks and stones in the Forbidden City, lab technology and cross-border studies of ancient civilizations.